A day at the flea market is packed with all the fun and excitement that makes up a good time. The atmosphere on a sunny day can be carnival like. If this is a market that has been around for years then a lot will be going on. I used to go to one of these when I was growing up in Kansas. This swap & shop as we called it was an adventure in treasure hunting. You never knew what you were going to find. On the best Sundays, there would be a live auction at noon. You had plenty of time to browse over the items up for sale. Most were box lots and then individual furniture and such.
The etiquette of buying and selling was strictly adhered to. Everyone worked with everyone else and that made for a great atmosphere. The seller’s where in the same place every week, new sellers would be in the back row. Most Sundays that was the first place we would head to, this was beginners row. A lot of the people selling didn’t know what they had and bargains could be had for a dime. The regulars were always where they belonged. It was fun to see what they had bought through the week at auctions and garage sales. Their inventory was varied and new. Then you had the sellers with new products. Household cleaners and such. Almost anything could be had. If you didn’t see it, simply ask. Most of the time a seller would come up with what you wanted.
An open market is a wonderful thing that has been around for thousands of years. That is where the name originates from. In the old days sellers and buyers were not so picky. The sellers sold cheap, worn out goods that might come with some free riders. Fleas were a common tag along, so the name took hold. Nowadays modern market etiquette demands that the goods that are being sold are bug free and not stolen. Much has changed since the beginning of the flea market.
The same basic concept holds true that was used a thousand years ago. You can find great prices on used goods. The atmosphere is the same as it was except, without swords. The market holds so much adventure for the buyer and intrigue is applied to the seller. The seller will not tell the buyer where he gets his stuff, in fear of losing his customer. Regular sellers had their weekly auctions that they would go to and pick up new goods at very cheap prices. This was a common way of replenishing their weekly trade stock. It also made for a good selection that would bring faithful buyers every week. This is the draw of the swap & shop. You never know what you might find.
Lets not forget about the food. It can be amazing. The swap and shop I went to as a kid was always loaded with food. It was a Drive in Movie Theater so the concessions stand was always open. What a great deal, drive in food on a Sunday morning…Yummy. I can still taste the corn dogs and chili dogs. If you were not up for that there were plenty of other goodies to choose from.
A flea market is a great way to spend a Sunday morning. Take the kids and have some fun. It doesn’t cost much and everybody comes home with a new toy or treasure. So make sure you stop in and support the local economy as you have some fun.
